I am a product of ‘English Medium School’ Well, throughout my school life (Primary and Secondary) our medium was in English. I,e, everything was in English – Maths, History, Prose/Poetry, Geography, Science, Community living. Civics, Crafts, drawing etc However, we had one Konkani language (in Deunagri) from Std I to Std IV
Again, we had one Hindi language from Std. V till Metric (Std X or XI) >From Std VIII till X we had optional third language –Konkani, Marathi, Portuguese, French etc Other two compulsory languages being English & Hindi My early school days: As a child, I remember schooling at various places within my village First, it was an old large house, outside the house there was an old fallen cinnamon (Tiki) tree. We used to peal off it’s skin using stones and then chew it. (presently, the house is renovated by NRI retuned family who lives there since then). My second school or class was in the Church corridors – An external part of the Church where there was a narrow alleyway for the priests to reach the pulpit to preach sermons (now sermons are preached from the main altar). It was only about 10 steps high but if I looked down it used to give me shiver in my legs and that explain why I still have that Acrophobia in me. My third class (not Std III) was in a small dark room behind the sacristy (a part of Sacristy/church) Sacristy is a place in a church where all sacred items like priests cassocks / vestments, vessels (Kals, Cups), Church reading books etc are kept or stored. This is also the place for the priests to dress up to come on the altar to say the mass. Altar Boys gowns are also found here in s separate cupboard or cabinet. (see various pics). I remember eating of ‘Particulam pitto’ Crumbs or wastage or leftover of cut pieces of communion / host which the Sancristao or sacristan used to give us. My first proper school class - when I was in STD II I was a ranker, once I even remember securing 22nd rank in Std II. But Std III was like too much for me, everything seems different or difficult. Long and large history/Geography etc answers and whole and all poems etc I simply found too difficult to make byheart. (for I did not know what it meant because English was not my mother tongue) I still remember the poem which I could not make it by heart, even if I did I was lost during the oral exams. And I said in my language (Konkani) ‘Konn mun zankum padd pololo, nanv naslolo’ I was referring to the unknown author or the poet who wrote the poem ‘ A kite’ (and that was the first time I come to know that ‘Anon’ stands for Anonymous. A Kite I often sit and wish that I, Could be a kite up in the sky. And ride upon the breeze and go, Whatever way I chanced to blow. Then I could look beyond the town, And see the river winding down. And follow all the ships that sail, Like me, before the merry gale. Until at last with them I came, To some place with a foreign name. For the first time in my life I failed in Std III and I failed miserably . I failed not just in 3 or 4 subjects but all in the subjects. Konkani language was my favourite subject and I was hoping at least 60 but I failed in that one too securing just 27 marks (out of 100) the highest scored amongst all the subject though. (my handwriting was partly to blame for securing just 27) I remember how I used to cheat my father every time he wanted to take up my tuition or homework (My father was ‘Tarvotti’ most of the time at sea). I said ‘Only konkani homework today’ as my father unable to read/write deunagri. And he knew very well that I was acting too smart (by lying). I am now, no longer a Daddy’s boy or for that matter ‘mummy’s boy’ This has affected me a lot, infact this has served a turning point and there was no looking back since then – Very serious in studies, like a parrot learnt or made every thing by heart etc Never remember failing again not even in a single subject The poem ‘KITE’ I can still recite but this time, understanding every word it says or meant. Secondary School Life: Std V onwards In order to cut it short, let me straight go the my final year at school I was 18 at this time (Don’t laugh, I was one of the few youngest in the class) Mind you, there were many clean shaven boys and girls over their marriageable ages 21+) (I guess this was partly because kids were admitted to school late. and off course number of time one fails during the 10-13 years of school life including KG) As said, our medium or medium of instructions was English. But we all spoke our mother tongue right upto SSC be it in the class, playground, during recess etc. Our teachers spoke all the time English though. We put any question or query to our teachers in Konkani and we got answers in English. There were a few teachers who preferred to answers in Konkani though or for that mater they interacted with students in their mother tongue (perhaps, they were not good in spoken English). During our last year at school, we were lucky to get one new Head Master (inter school transfers) He was city based HM, tall and with good personality who only speaks English. He was our English teacher too. Always moarning and blaming our school which according to him was so behind or primitive? He was never happy with his new posting. Once he asked us to spell out the word ‘tarely’ as in ‘learn tarely..’ It was like a game, he took each and every one to the black board to spell out the word. In the end it was our turn (a bunch of top students of the class). Although the word is very familiar or common, I was not too sure about it and wrote ‘tarely’ so did the other lot. Needless to mention that none of us got it right as the right spelling was ‘thoroughly’ except it is pronounced ‘Ta-ro-ly’ and not ‘to-ro-ly’ Few weeks later, he made us to write a simple letter. ( as sort of test on a separate page, which he took home and brought back next day duly evaluated ). On my letter, I still remember his remark in red ‘How can you be so homible in letter writing?’ And I still could not figure out what exactly he meant by that. Another unforgettable embarrassment which always reminded me of during Christmas time. We used to send Xmas cards to our friends and family. This time I included our Class Teacher who is also the School Head Master – It was like a special hand made card. I only posted it on 18th Dec. so that it is delivered in time before Xmas by 24th Dec. On 21st morning first period, he was moaning about someone or someone’s Xmas card he received He was going on and on and would not mention person’s name all the time, we even thought he was talking about his ex school etc but suddenly just before winding up his moaning lecture ended up starring at me. I was so embarrassed. See Note 4 Despite all this, I must say he was the Best Teacher or Headmaster we ever had and wished we had him few years earlier. Here I am, as you know, still not good at it. Despite coming from English medium school Extras: 1. The other poems I remember were daffodils, who has seen the wind etc etc 2. In Std. VI, A new teacher on her very first day called us ‘idiots’ (we were 4 idiots) We thought it was a bad or swearing word, we even complained to our Class Teacher.. 3. Our Spoken Hindi was much much better than spoken English Despite English language and medium for over 10 years whereas Hindi subject for 5 years only (I guess, its because of watching of bollywood movies, the only entertainment of our time There were no TVs, cable, SKY, DVD/VCD orVHS video) 4. Few nameless girls who also posted XMAS cards to me after the incident further embarrassed me by encircling the word ‘Merry’ Christmas (meaning, it’s not marry) Some related pics Sacristy http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches2/4486716060/ Cassock http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk4/193341923/ Cassock and altar boys http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk19/3532676143/ Priests on the altar http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk19/3510101278/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk33/5217448480/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk24/4481787654/ Altar boy http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk-tiatr2/3958396078/ Pulpit http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk33/5189223667/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk18/3496709135/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches/4161762326/ Note: Note, the above is the true confession and lot has to learn from it including the teaching staff, discipline etc particulalry at village level pic above is for illustration purpose only [email protected] for Goa & NRI related info... http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/ For Goan Video Clips http://youtube.com/joeukgoa In Goa, Dial 1 0 8 For Hospital, Police, Fire etc
